STOCKTON -- Long-time law enforcement official Eric Holman, the younger brother of Stockton Councilman Elbert Holman, will serve as the interim police chief for Stockton Unified, the school district announced this morning. Holman, 51, immediately will replace Jim West, who retires after work today.

STOCKTON -- Long-time law enforcement official Eric Holman, the younger brother of Stockton Councilman Elbert Holman, will serve as the interim police chief for Stockton Unified, the school district announced this morning. Holman, 51, immediately will replace Jim West, who retires after work today.

Holman is a retired captain with the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department with 30 years of experience. He has been working part-time for the sheriff's department at a rate of $33 an hour for 12 hours a week, according to sheriff’s department spokesman Les Garcia. According to Stockton Unified, Holman will be paid $443 a day as West’s interim replacement. A now-scrapped plan to contract with the Stockton Police Department would have cost the school district $830 a day.

Holman said he plans to resume part-time service with the sheriff's department once Stockton Unified hires West's permanent replacement. Stockton Unified Superintendent Steve Lowder was given the authority by the school board to choose West's interim replacement during a special meeting Thursday night.

“(Holman) has significant experience and has led a small department before,” Lowder said today. “He will serve as a solid interim chief while we begin to look for Chief West's replacement.”

Read Saturday's Record for more on this story by staff writer Roger Phillips.